Many of his early paintings won regional Scholastic Art Awards, including two national gold medals in his senior year at Paschal High School in 1959. He also participated in Fort Worth art contests sponsored by well-known art instructor Beatrice Dunning — exhibition labels remain on some of those paintings. Normand attended Ted Weiner scholarship classes at Fort Worth Art Center School where he studied painting and drawing under Bror Utter, McKie Trotter, David Brownlow, and John Chumley.

“Pickle Factory” (1958) by Hal Normand depicts the Best Maid pickle factory on South Riverside Drive

Oh, and for the sake of full disclosure, I must acknowledge that I already own a Normand painting. I met him last year at the Adobe Western Art Gallery and Frame Shop in the Stockyards, and I loved his work so much I bought one and had it framed. It hangs in a prominent location in my house. (The painting depicts a water tower near Weatherford, but I don’t have a picture of it to show you).

“Odessa Refinery” (1958) by Hal Normand

The art show and sale is 5 to 9 pm on July 2, and 10 am to 4 pm on July 3.

Here’s an another example of Cynthia Brants’ work (“The Cocktail Party,” 1947):

2 Comments

Don’t forget that Normand also has a Fine Arts degree from University of Texas Austin where he studied under William Lester, Everett Spruce, and Charles Umlauf. And he is included in the McLean Junior High Collection of fine art. If you want one of his paintings this is the chance as he doesn’t paint anymore.